Nannies vs. Au Pairs in Silicon Valley

As states across the country continue to recovery from a global recession, some states and industries are bouncing back slower than others. The child care industry in Silicon Valley, CA is no exception. Nannies have taken a notable hit in hourly pay; however, some people argue they have no reason to complain about their hourly wages.

The Wall Street Journal reports that hourly rates in Silicon Valley have dropped to $18 to $20 an hour down from $18 to $25 just two years ago. However, some don’t think $18 to $20 sounds too little. A reader commented on the Wall Street Journal article and said, “25 bucks per hour? That is great salary. If I am able to intern in Big four, the highest salary for me is $25 per hour. They earn more than college graduates!”

Is the price of child care in Silicon Valley too high? Well, that depends what you consider high, but when you consider the hourly cost of a nanny compared to an Au Pair, the cost difference is tremendous. At only $7.58 an hour, Au Pairs are a bargain compared to Silicon Valley nannies. The savings are even more noticeable if you consider the cost of an Au Pair and Nanny for 45 hours a week - $341 for an Au Pair and $810 to $900 for a nanny.

Au Pairs and nannies are similar in many ways; however, there are some notable differences between them.  One of the greatest advantages of an Au Pair is the close relationship your Au Pair will have with your children. As a live in child care provider, your Au Pair will have a greater opportunity to bond with your children. You may be surprised how soon your children would consider your Au Pair an older brother or sister rather than just a caregiver.

Parents can also have peace of mind knowing the U.S. Department of State oversees and regulates the Au Pair program. There is no need to worry about your caregiver’s illegal citizenship status, withholding taxes, or background checks. The Au Pair program takes care of all those and more.

We’d love to hear from you. How does your child care rate compare with that of an Au Pair?